TNT Tropang Giga vs Chiba Jets in EASL. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
STA. ROSA, Laguna—Shorthanded TNT tried to overhaul a huge deficit before falling short once more to the Chiba Jets, 75-66, on Wednesday in the East Asia Super League at City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex here.
Despite import Quincy Miller leading the fightback, the Tropang Giga couldn’t get themselves closer to the Japanese side despite slicing a deficit of 20 down to five multiple times in the second half to suffer a second straight loss in the regional competition.
“I think we lost the game in the beginning,” said Lastimosa, lamenting on TNT’s sluggish start. “For us being the home team and sleeping in our own beds and not have that kind of energy at the beginning of the game, I think that was the difference.”
Miller’s 22 points and 13 rebounds was not enough for TNT, which played minus its PBA Commissioner’s Cup reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Hollis-Jefferson attended the game but Lastimosa said he’s doubtful for Sunday’s season-opener against Magnolia due to gastroenteritis.
Jets import John Mooney imposed plenty of problems for the Tropang Giga underneath and led the way with 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Yuki Togashi added 14 points and five assists to put the B.League side in a perfect 3-0 record in Group A.
Jaydee Tungcab was the only TNT local in double figures with 10 points after a solid first half shooting. Calvin Oftana had eight points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals but committed six turnovers in his first game for the Tropang Giga since winning the gold for Gilas Pilipinas in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The scores:
CHIBA 75—Mooney 30, Stephens 15, Togashi 14, Ogawa 7, Hara 5, Okura 4, Brown 0, Kanechika 0, Arao 0, Tobin 0.
TNT 66—Miller 22, Tungcab 10, Oftana 8, Castro 8, Williams K. 7, Khobuntin 3, Ponferada 3, Cruz 3, Reyes 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Montalbo 0.
Quarters: 23-14, 50-32, 64-56, 75-66.